Universal Yums is an international snack subscription box. Every month they send a mix of snacks from one country or region. (A different country or region is featured each month.)
This month’s snacks are from France! (What a perfect pick for a Valentine’s Day box!!)
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Universal Yums
The Cost: $13/month for the Yum Box (6+ snacks) and $25/month for the Yum Yum Box (13+ snacks). (Note that this is a review of the Yum Yum Box.)
The Products: A selection of unique snacks from a different country each month.
Ships to: US & Canada (Canadian shipping is extra.)
Check out all of our Universal Yums reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!
Universal Yums includes a booklet that lists all of the items in the box.
The booklet includes trivia, fables, a recipe, and other fun French info.
Universal Yums also details the ingredients of each item on their website.
Ker Cadelac Palets (125 g.)- $3.50
These cookies are no doubt, hands down my favorite item Universal Yums has EVER sent. They have a crunchy texture, similar to shortbread, and the buttery flavor is fantastic. My husband and I taste tested these cookies with tea, and I had to literally get up and move the box across the room to prevent us from eating the entire thing in one sitting.
Dark Chocolate Crepe Dentelle (3.17 oz.)- $4.25
The Crepe Dentelles were another major hit. I sampled the non-chocolate version in Yummy Bazaar’s November Full Experience Box, and, while those were delicious, this chocolate-dipped version is even better! They’re crispy, flaky, and rich.
Rochambeau Snacks Fromage
Rochambeau’s cheese balls were an absolute treat. My husband described them as “classy cheesy poofs,” which I thought was sweet and totally appropriate.
St Michel Madeleines (2.99 oz.)- $5.16
Madeleines are traditional French cakes that are small and soft. They’re often flavored with nuts or lemon zest, but Yummy Bazaar opted to include a buttery version. I love madeleines (and I couldn’t imagine a French box without them!), but I think these are just okay. They have a little bit of a “packaged” flavor, I think.
Michel et Augustin Cookie Squares (1.18 oz.)- $2.33
Michel and Augustin are childhood friends who describe themselves as “two kooky cookies.” They make a variety of different squares, and these Lemon Meringue Cookies consist of lemon ganache and meringue pieces on a buttery base. For anyone interested in trying them, according to the website they’re available in Starbucks across the US.
Chabert & Guillot Nougat (1.05 oz.)- $2.95
Montelimar, a small town in southern France, is famous for gourmet nougat-making. (It was even referenced in the Beatles’ song, “Savoy Truffle.”) This authentic Montelimar nougat is made with honey, pistachios, almonds, and whipped egg whites.
Rose Pastilles (.4 oz.)- $3.99
I have vivid memories of eating rose pastilles as a kid, so these bring back a lot of memories. (I think I first picked some up at the French gift shop at Epcot!) These are delicious, but the dominant flavor is licorice, not rose. Not that that’s a bad thing! I like them a lot.
Pierrot Gourmand Fruit Lollipops (2 lollipops)- $.44
These fruity lollipops have been around since the 1900’s! Subscribers will receive two of the following flavors: sweet lemon, citrus orange, fresh raspberry, or tart cherry. I think I received orange and raspberry. Both were great!
Lutti Magnificat Caramels (4 pieces)- $1.50?
Caramels pop up pretty often in Universal Yums boxes (I think it’s one of the true universal sweets!), but these are something special. They’re made with French butter, whole milk, and creme fraiche, and the flavor is rich, creamy, and delicious.
Carambar (4 pieces)- $1.81
Carambar is another caramel candy, but it’s a little different than the Magnificat. The sticks are firmer and made with a touch of cocoa powder. The candy hardens when it’s cold, so Universal Yums recommends heating up the bars in the microwave for 5-10 seconds if they’re too tough.
Liquicroc Caramel Dragees (4 pieces)- $2?
These chocolate candies are filled with an utterly delicious salted caramel filling. They’re definitely my favorite new French candy discovery!
Malabar Bubble Gum (4 pieces)- $2.80
While I’m a big fan of most of this month’s French candy, I really wasn’t a fan of this gum. It’s cotton candy flavored, which isn’t my favorite, unfortunately. Still, the texture’s good, and I like that each piece comes with a temporary tattoo.
On the back of the information card, Universal Yums provides a clue to the next month’s destination. What do you think about the clue? It sounds like The Philippines to me!
Verdict: This is one of my favorite boxes EVER from Universal Yums! The butter cookies and chocolate crepes were both fantastic, and I really liked all of the candy, too. My only complaint is that this box feels a little lighter than some of the previous Yum Yum boxes, but, based on the prices I found online, the value seems to be pretty good. I love that France was the featured country this month (it seems like an appropriate pick for Valentine’s Day!), and I can’t wait to see what next month’s box will bring!
What do you think of this month’s Universal Yums box? Did you enjoy your box of French goodies?
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